THIS MONDAY - THE LONGCUT LIVE AT THE HEAVENLY SOCIAL

This Monday our good friends The Longcut are playing live at the Heavenly Social, supported by Sink Ya Teeth with our Blowout compadre Graham on DJ duties. Tickets are here & there will be full crew out.

That's all we really need to say so in the words of gig organiser Pierre Hall...

The return of the one of Manchester’s most incendiary live acts – The Longcut come to London for a one-off special show at The Social. Stalwarts of the mid-noughties Manchester Music scene – buoyed by seminal Manchester DIY underground clubnights like aKoustik Anakarkhy and Blowout and signed to Liverpool’s legendary Deltasonic Records they brought an array of jaw dropping singles such as ‘Transition’, ‘A Quiet Life’ and ‘A Tried And Tested Method’ to kitchens, hotel function rooms and main stages here and abroad. The opportunity of seeing them in such a small venues is going to be, well, seminal to say the least.

Support comes from James Endeacott’s 1965 Records signings Sink Ya Teeth – an intoxicating gaze of ESG meets the Raincoats – the duo have been stacking up high praise from everywhere including Pitchfork and 6 Music – the latter having playlisted their last two singles. A hot ticket.

DJ duties on the night come from the one and only Graham ‘Blowout’ Thomas. A true legend of the early 2000s Manchester scene – from curating his legendary Blowout nights at the Bierkeller – having everyone pass through from Bloc Party to the Cribs in their infancy to managing acts like Fear Of Music & Polytechnic at early stages in their career and giving early gigs to huge Manchester acts including Liam Fray, Nine Black Alps and Cherry Ghost. The family man has now set up shop down south, is back in the local music scene and is delving into his huge collection of wax to give us a Monday night worth calling in sick for.

Rock on.

PLANK to open for MICHAEL ROTHER in Manchester on April 26th at Soundcontrol

DHP PRESENTS:

MICHAEL ROTHER
PLUS SUPPORT PLANK 
WEDNESDAY APRIL 26TH  
SOUND CONTROL MANCHESTER
TICKET LINK 

There's not much need to state the obvious and the influence of Michael Rother and his various groups on the PLANK boys. After all this was a band who started out with an explanation mark at the end of their name, one they'd taken in honour of his producer pal Konrad. Things have moved on for them since but there has always been a shadowy figure hovering over their output,  so it's a great privilege for PLANK to opening for Michael when he plays Manchester on 26th April. 

Early PLANK.. 

 

aA have took many excursions to see Michael play in his various setups on stage - Birmingham, London and a particular heady night in Wrexham spings to mind and it's always brilliant, needless to say this night should not be missed with him playing from his vast catalogue from Harmonia, Neu! and his solo works. 

Fingers crossed for something off Fernwärme....

PLANK are currently holed up working on album 3...

NEW aA MUSIC | VAPOROUS LIGHT : 'GHOSTS OF ALMERIA'

'Ghosts Of Almeria'

Vaporous Light

'Ghosts Of Almeria'

Just like a dream sequence time lapsing from one moment to the next, the rich tapestry of sounds emitted by Vaporous Light has never been more in tune with their subconscious – on brand new album Ghosts Of Almeria, dreams and a ghostly Spanish setting have played a surprising influence on the Manchester trio. 

“When you dream you experience all these different kinds of emotions whether that’s happiness, fear, love or anxiety and in many ways Ghosts Of Almeria embodies all those things.” explains mysteriously named producer and one-third of Vaporous Light, Raymond Ray. 

In their waking life, Vaporous Light’s enigmatic presence on Manchester’s wildly shapeshifting music scene has been marked by an astute ability to create music as mesmerising as it is mystifying. Since feeling their way over a mutual love of cinematic soundscapes and obscure soundtracks whilst first working on a handful of musical sketches at Ray's home studio in the city suburbs, the trio have shied away from the spotlight, eschewing plans to ever play live in favour of dedicating their time to a methodical composition process that allows listeners to be drawn in, then drop out of daily rigmarole.

Marking a path previously untrodden and their furthest flung to date, Ghosts Of Almeria takes its title from the eerie landscape in Spain’s Andalucia region of the same name – its isolation makes it a favourite spot for filmmakers of classic cowboy tales and is where one third of Vaporous Light began writing the songs on his guitar after awaking and experiencing a night terror. “That place definitely got under my skin,” he recalls. “It’s frightening how the environment around you can creep into your unconscious.”

Veering from industrial rhythms to modern country and classic pop motifs as colourful as the artwork adorning its sleeve, Ghosts Of Almeria was recorded between Vaporous Light’s various homes in Manchester’s suburbia, fuelled by late nights, countless cups of coffee and knuckling down to hone their sound. As melodic engineers, they cleverly mask subtle intricacies, luring the listener into a deeper state of consciousness whilst flickering between darkness and light. 

From the stunningly ethereal sound of guest vocalist Tekla Szersynska who adds sparkle and grace to lead track ‘When You Open Your Eyes’ to aptly titled ‘Waiting For The Sunrise’ which surfaces like a morning overture of Berlin-era David Bowie covering ‘Good Vibrations’, the album is as melodic as it is illuminating.

Yet lurking below its beguiling surface, Ghosts Of Almeria’s heart beats with meticulous precision. Inspired by the score accompanying Scorsese’s Shutter Island, the acerbic wit and Hammond organ of ‘I’m Your Patient’ give drive to Vaporous Light’s darker side. 

Elsewhere inspiration is drawn from Galaxie 500’s tales of love and loss, the synth sounds of Johnny Jewel, and the drones forming the record’s backbone pay homage to Brian Eno (‘My Heart Aint Beating As Fast As It Used To’ includes the melody of Pachelbel’s ‘Canon In D’ on a music box which featured on Eno’s Discreet Music). “We’re interested in the mechanics of how things sound,” explains Ray, “it’s like therapy, making each part sound just as right on its own, as when it’s all put together.” 

Vaporous Light do things their own way and in their own time. Whether Ghost Of Almeria’s follow up arrives next week, next year, or in five years; their attitude will remain the same. The music will be unveiled when the time is right and not a moment before. And when it is, Manchester will rise and shine once again.

You can listen to & order this new low key aA release via Bandcamp.

MILO SCAGLIONI 'A SIMPLE PRESENT' LP LAUNCH PARTY | THE EAGLE SALFORD

MILO SCAGLIONI - 'A SIMPLE PRESENT' LP LAUNCH PARTY

SUPPORTED BY

DOTAPESTRY & SONGS FOR WALTER 

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 04TH 

THE EAGLE INN, SALFORD

7PM TIL LATE

£5 ON THE DOOR

FB EVENT HERE

Debut album out now on aA Recordings and Crytmo Records:

The background...

Over ten years since first embarking upon a musical pilgrimage to Manchester, Milo Scaglioni’s musical journey has been a varied one. You may recognise him as bass player in The Beep Seals and playing with fellow pop procrastinator Jim Noir, he later become a member of Italian psych band Jennifer Gentle who were signed to Sub Pop, currently plays with Roma based droners Sonic Jesus and also regularly backs one of Italy’s biggest musicians, Dellera. 

Having moved back home to Italy a few years ago, Milo started shaping his own music before enlisting some of the country's finest musicians; Roberto Dellera (Bass), PJ Harvey collaborator Enrico Gabrielli (Piano, Organ, Rhodes, Sax, Vocals), Lino Gitto (Drums, Percussion, Organ), Gianluca De Rubertis (Piano, Wurtlizer), and Simone Prudenzano (Drums) to recorded the album in southern Italy’s Lecce, in Edac Studio, situated on the banks of Lake Como, under the watchful ear of renowned producer Davide Lasala. Certainly beats Chorlton Waterpark for scenic value...

Whilst 'A Simple Present' simmers with the romance and splendour of the Italian cities he has called home in Milan and Rome, the latter is where Milo resides now, it still brims with a personal, village green mentality only fitting of his second home; “Manchester influenced my way of seeing things and consequently, my approach to music and song writing. There’s an honesty in Manchester, a keep your chin up ethos and poetry."



Support comes from DOTAPESTRY & SONGS FOR WALTER

INCOMING #PZYK | STAGE TIMES FOR @LPOOLPSYCHFEST | SEPT 24TH & 25TH

[ CLICK TO EXPAND ] 

It's that time of year again.

Our favourite festival.

Two days of psychedelic exploration across the warehouse spaces of Camp and Furnance.

Too many bands and too many DJs to highlight here so if you've not yet, get your tickets now.

The schedule is as follows:

[ CLICK TO EXPAND ] 

PLANK are on the Saturday at 21.15 in District. 

They'll be debuting a slew of new material so do not miss. 

As in previous years we'll be DJ-ing too.

A 3 hour PZYK excursion, linking up with Basin Rock & Eighty Six. 

Outside in the sun...

We'll post the times up when confirmed, very soon...

PZYK!

MILO SCAGLIONI - A SIMPLE PRESENT | ALBUM OUT AUGUST 2016

MILO SCAGLIONI - A SIMPLE PRESENT

Debut album released August 05th 2016 on aA Recordings and Crytmo Records

Buy it from here

Over ten years since first embarking upon a musical pilgrimage to Manchester, Milo Scaglioni’s musical journey has been a varied one. You may recognise him as bass player in The Beep Seals and playing with fellow pop procrastinator Jim Noir, he later become a member of Italian psych band Jennifer Gentle who were signed to Sub Pop, currently plays with Roma based droners Sonic Jesus and also regularly backs one of Italy’s biggest musicians, Dellera. 

Listen to single 'October':

Having moved back home to Italy a few years ago, Milo started shaping his own music before enlisting some of the country's finest musicians; Roberto Dellera (Bass), PJ Harvey collaborator Enrico Gabrielli (Piano, Organ, Rhodes, Sax, Vocals), Lino Gitto (Drums, Percussion, Organ), Gianluca De Rubertis (Piano, Wurtlizer), and Simone Prudenzano (Drums) to recorded the album in southern Italy’s Lecce, in Edac Studio, situated on the banks of Lake Como, under the watchful ear of renowned producer Davide Lasala. Certainly beats Chorlton Waterpark for scenic value...

Over his time in Manchester, Milo became a good friend to aA and we kept in touch, with members of the aA crew making numerous trips to Italy to see how our old pal was getting on and his own music was developing. Including one particularly productive A&R meet in Venice with Softpriest and some suitably decadent night outs in Rome.

Whilst 'A Simple Present' simmers with the romance and splendour of the Italian cities he has called home in Milan and Rome, the latter is where Milo resides now, it still brims with a personal, village green mentality only fitting of his second home; “Manchester influenced my way of seeing things and consequently, my approach to music and song writing. There’s an honesty in Manchester, a keep your chin up ethos and poetry."

Sticking two fingers up at the recent Brexit decision, the album is fittingly a joint release with Crytmo Records a division of the Rome based Misty Lane Records.

Order it from here now

and look out some very limited vinyl numbers in the country soon. 
Just got to get Milo to smuggle them over the border now..

Live video 'Stone Cold Sober':

THIS IS THE ONE | THE LONGCUT | RUBY LOUNGE - FRIDAY JUNE 17TH

THIS IS THE ONE. 

The only legendary Manchester band playing town next week you need to worry about.

For those of you have followed aA over the years you will know how important THE LONGCUT are to our story. Sound tracking many a hedonistic night from Back Piccadilly, Oak Road, Rampant Lion, a hazy Amsterdam trip & of course a particular memorable bus outing to the capital for their first London show (captured in their contribution to the aA Beyond Entertainment comp), the bond was tight.

We're not ones to look back longingly at the 'good old days', life moves on, embrace the new. But next Friday's (17th June) celebration of their debut album will be a blast and there will be many familiar (smiling) faces down at the Ruby Lounge. Knowing the band, sure there will be new material on show too.

We'll be playing a few records and the K-X-P are supporting. Anyone in attendance at the aA at the Soup Kitchen a couple of years back know these guys are exceptional. The drone-jazz-metal-disco Kings. 
 
 

All we wanted was A Quiet Life. 

Did we heck.

Facebook event is here:

Tickets available from here.

 

aA Vs EIGHTY SIX | BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY MAY 29TH | THE BEAGLE CHORLTON

So we've been kindly invited to link up with Eighty Six and do a joint party at The Beagle, as part of Chorlton Arts Festival 2016 next Sunday May 29th.

Performing live are Laurie Hulme (Songs For Walter) and Nick Ellis (The Blue Soul) plus DJs from Eighty Six and aA.

It'll all start around 5pm and is free entry. We'll post stage times nearer the day.

Facebook page thing here too.

It should be a low key Sunday. But it's also the closing party for Chorlton Arts Festival so there will be quite a few people out - make sure you get there early if you want in. 

The Beagle has some ace new artwork by Hammo - looking fine!